Records:
Texas Tech: 12-11; 1-6 Big 12 / Kansas State: 17-3; 4-3 Big 12
Rankings:
Texas Tech: None / Kansas State: No. 14 (AVCA)
Streaks:
Texas Tech: Lost 1-straight / Kansas State: Lost 1-straight
TEXAS TECH
Last Five:
Texas Tech: 1-4 / Kansas State: 3-2
12-11; 1-6 Big 12
Coaches:
Texas Tech: Don Flora (Career: 296-87 - 13; At Tech: 27-28 - 2)
Kansas State: Suzie Fritz (234-130 - 12th season, all at KSU)
Series:
Kansas State leads, 28-8, all-time and 11-5 in Manhattan.
Head coach Don Flora is 0-2 all-time against Kansas State.
Last Meeting: Kansas State def. Texas Tech, 3-1, on Nov. 19, 2011, in Manhattan.
RPI:
Texas Tech: 91 / Oklahoma: 14
Last Match: Texas Tech fell to Oklahoma, 3-0, on Wednesday.
#14 KANSAS STATE
Kansas State fell at No. 21 Kansas, 3-1, on Wednesday.
17-3; 4-3 BIG 12
RED RAIDERS LOOK TO REBOUND AT NO. 14 KANSAS STATE
Texas Tech will look for its first win against Kansas State since 2004 Saturday when the Red Raiders travel to
face the 14th-ranked Wildcats at 3 p.m. in Ahearn Field House.
INSIDE THE KANSAS STATE SERIES
Texas Tech enters Saturday’s match looking for its first win over Kansas State since 2004 as the Wildcats have
won the previous 14 contests between the two schools. The Red Raiders defeated K-State, 3-2, on Nov. 20,
2004, in Manhattan for their last win in the series which also was the last Tech victory over a ranked opponent
as the Wildcats were 20th in the country at the time. K-State leads the all-time series 28-8 overall and 11-5
when playing in Manhattan.

PLAYER TO WATCH
#4 Senior MIARA CAVE
Right Side

San Antonio, Texas

Roosevelt H.S.

Miara Cave is Texas Tech’s leader in Big 12 play so far this year as the senior has
totaled 63 from the right side at a 2.62 per set average. She has also added eight
blocks and 26 digs. The San Antonio, Texas native is coming off two-straight
double-digit kill performances as she connected on 15 last Saturday at West Virginia and then 10 Wednesday evening against Oklahoma. Cave hit .303 against
the Mountaineers, her highest percentage in Big 12 play this year, as she finished just one kill shy of matching her career high. The preseason All-Big 12 pick
has recorded 19 of her 32 digs this season over the last four matches alone after
opening each set by going a full six rotations during that span. Cave is second
on the team with 180 kills.

The Texas Tech Athletics Communications office is here to serve the media throughout the 2012 Red Raider
Volleyball season. Media members in need of assistance can contact Matt Dowdy in the Athletics Communications office at (806) 742-2770.

MEDIA CREDENTIALS
edia members wishing to cover the Texas Tech at the United Spirit Arena during the 2010 season must be
M

issued a working credential from the Texas Tech Athletics Communications office.
• All requests for both media and photo credentials must be made either in writing or via e-mail at least a
day in advance to Matt Dowdy, Assistant Director for Athletic Communications. (Fax: (806) 742-1970; e-mail:
matthew.dowdy@ttu.edu)
• Requests are honored from sports editors of daily and weekly newspapers, editors of sports periodicals,
and sports directors of radio and television stations who broadcast regularly scheduled daily sports reports
and talk shows.
• Credentials can be picked up in the Athletics Communications office (south end of Jones AT&T Stadium) or
at will call, which is located at the ticket booth on the west side of the United Spirit Arena.

This is the official site of the Texas Tech Athletics Department. Texas Tech Volleyball releases as well as a variety of athletics department information can be found on the web. Texas Tech also offers live video and audio
(home matches only) streaming of all Red Raider matches.

Photographers are permitted to shoot around the court at the United Spirit Arena. All photographers must
be issued a working credential by the Athletics Communications office to gain access to the court level of
the facility.

RADIO BROADCASTS

Media row at the United Spirit Arena is equipped with both ISDN and phone lines for radio crews wanting to
broadcast Texas Tech matches. For information on the ISDN and phone lines, please contact Matt Dowdy in
the Athletics Communications office.

HEAD COACH INTERVIEWS

Head coach Don Flora can be reached best during the morning hours. Flora’s office is housed in the north
end of the United Spirit Arena. To setup an interview, please contact Matt Dowdy in the Athletics Communications office.

PLAYER INTERVIEWS

Players and coaches are available for interviews every day prior to the start of practice. Practice times vary
from week to week, so media members wishing to attend should contact Matt Dowdy in the Athletics Communications office to get a weekly schedule. Players and coaches are not available until following the match
on gamedays.

POSTMATCH INTERVIEWS

Texas Tech players and head coach Don Flora will be made available to the media outside the media room
(near visiting team tunnel) following a brief cooling off period. The Texas Tech lockerroom will remain closed.

PHOTO REQUESTS

All still photography requests of Texas Tech players and coaches must be directed to Matt Dowdy. He can be
reached electronically at matthew.dowdy@ttu.edu.

@TECHATHLETICS

TEXAS TECH VOLLEYBALL
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The Red Raiders will take a full week off following their match with Kansas State before returning to the
United Spirit Arena on Oct. 27 to host West Virginia. Texas Tech defeated the Mountaineers, 3-1, last Saturday
in the first meeting between the two schools this year. The Red Raiders will then open a two-game road trip
on Oct. 31 at Oklahoma followed by a Nov. 3 contest at No. 22 Iowa State.
RED RAIDERS AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
Texas Tech will be looking for its first win over a ranked opponent since 2004 Saturday afternoon as the Red
Raiders will be taking on a top-25 team for the third time this season. Tech fell to then-No. 9 Texas in straight
sets on Sept. 29 and then dropped a 3-1 decision on Oct. 6 to No. 22 Iowa State. The Red Raiders went winless
against ranked opponents in Don Flora’s first year roaming the sidelines as the second-year head coach is
0-7 so far against top-25 teams. Texas Tech last defeated a ranked opponent on Nov. 20, 2004, in a 3-2 victory
over No. 20 Kansas State in Manhattan.
MILLS BECOMING A FORCE IN THE MIDDLE
Mikia Mills heads to Kansas State coming off two of her best performances of the season as the sophomore
has totaled 15 kills and 11 blocks over the past week. She matched her career high with eight kills last Saturday at West Virginia and then came close to matching it again Wednesday night when she finished with
seven against Oklahoma. In addition to her offensive numbers, Mills has also been instrumental at the net
as she recorded seven blocks against the Mountaineers and four against Oklahoma. Mills’ emergence has
helped play a key role for the Red Raiders, who have been without junior middle blocker Aubree Piper for
the last four matches.
BRUMMITT NEARING TOP 10 IN SINGLE-SEASON DIGS
After transferring to Texas Tech last winter, Rachel Brummitt has already made quite the impact for the Red
Raiders on the back row. The Plano, Texas native has totaled 385 digs so far and ranks fourth in the Big 12 in
digs per set (4.48) entering Saturday’s match at Kansas State. With nine matches still remaining, Brummitt
is on pace to potentially snap the Tech record for digs in a single-season that was set in 2000 when Melissa
MeGehee recorded 448. Brummitt enters this week needing just nine more digs to tie Lisa Hilgers’ 1995 total
of 394 that ranks 10th all-time.

EHRLE BECOMES FIRST RED RAIDER TO REACH 200-KILL MARK
With her six kills at West Virginia, Emily Ehrle became the first Red Raider to reach the 200-kill mark this year
as she has totaled 207 entering Saturday’s match at Kansas State. The Crowley, Texas native is the sixth Red
Raider since 2000 to record at least 200 kills as a freshman, joining Kelly Johnson (2001), Kiley Lyons (2003),
Amy Gandy (2004), Amanda Dowdy (2008), and Breeann David (2011). Fellow freshmen Lydia McKay and
Meghan Stacy have a chance to join Ehrle as they have recorded 147 and 141 kills, respectively.

HRAGYIL, STACY COME OFF THE BENCH TO SPARK RED RAIDERS IN WIN
Part of Texas Tech’s success at West Virginia stemmed from the play of its bench, specifically Nicole Hragyil
and Meghan Stacy. Hragyil moved from a back row substitute to setter to start the second set while Stacy
was inserted on the outside as an offensive boost. Both delivered as Hragyil recorded her first career doubledouble with 30 assists and 10 digs while Stacy connected on 10 kills to go along with a .296 hitting percent-

age. Stacy’s 10 kills marked her most during Big 12 play this year as she reached double digits for the first
time since dropping a season-high 16 on Sept. 14 against Houston Baptist. Hragyil, meanwhile, posted season highs in both categories as she reached double digits in digs for the third time in her career. Both players
were in the starting lineup Wednesday evening when Tech fell in straight sets to Oklahoma.
WRAPPING UP THE WEST VIRGINIA WIN
• Snapped a nine-match losing streak that dated back to the Sept. 14 Rice Invitational opener against Houston Baptist.
• Marked Texas Tech’s first Big 12 road victory since defeating Colorado on Nov. 10, 2010, in Boulder.
• Marked the first time Texas Tech had defeated a Big 12 opponent in four sets since topping Kansas on Sept.
26, 2006, in Lubbock.
• Marked the first time Texas Tech had gone on the road to defeat a Big 12 opponent in four sets since edging
Baylor approximately eight years to the day on Oct. 13, 2004, in Waco.
• Marked the first time the Red Raiders had overcome a first-set deficit in a Big 12 match since defeating
Colorado on Nov. 10, 2010, in Boulder.
• The Red Raiders held West Virginia to just 10 points in the second set, marking the fewest for a Big 12 opponent since the NCAA moved total points from 30 to 25 per set prior to the 2008 season.
RED RAIDERS BOAST BALANCED ATTACK
With her five kills at Baylor, Breeann David became the sixth Red Raider to reach the 100-kill mark this season, joining freshmen Emily Ehrle, Lydia McKay, and Meghan Stacy along with junior Aubree Piper and
senior Miara Cave. Texas Tech has not previously had six or more players reach 100 kills in a season since
2001 when seven players did so en route to the school’s most recent NCAA Tournament appearance. Ehrle
leads the balanced attack with a team-high 207 kills followed by Cave with 180 and Piper with 148. McKay
and Stacy round of the group with 147 and 141 kills while David now has 111 on the year.
BRIEFLY …
• Texas Tech announced Wednesday that its originally-scheduled Nov. 9 non-conference match with New
Mexico has been canceled. The Lobos will instead travel to Lubbock during the 2013 season.
• The Big 12 Conference has five teams ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes in this week’s AVCA poll which
marks the most for the league this season. No. 8 Texas leads the group that also includes No. 14 Kansas State,
No. 21 Kansas, and No. 22 Iowa State. Oklahoma is also receiving votes for the sixth-straight week as the
Sooners picked up 11 points this week.
• The Red Raiders are No. 91 in this week’s ratings percentage index (RPI) poll that is released every Monday
leading up to NCAA postseason selections. Tech came in at No. 75 nationally in the first set of rankings that
were released a week ago, marking a significant improvement in Don Flora’s first season where the Red Raiders were No. 93 in the opening rankings.
• Texas Tech boasts one of the youngest rosters in the Big 12 as 15 of 18 Red Raiders who have appeared in a
conference match so far are classified as either a freshman or sophomore.
• Following the Red Raiders’ victory over West Virginia last Saturday, Don Flora is just four wins shy of reaching 300 for his career as the second-year head coach is 296-86 over 13 seasons and 27-27 while at Texas Tech.
• Rachel Brummitt enters this weekend ranked fourth in the Big 12 for digs per set as the sophomore transfer
is averaging 4.52 per frame. The two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week has also recorded two of the
five highest dig totals in the Big 12 this season after finishing with 34 against Houston Baptist and 27 against
San Jose State.
• Tory Vaughan enters this week among the leaders in digs among active Big 12 players as the senior has
totaled 839 over her four seasons which ranks sixth in the conference.
• Emily Ruetter’s 71 assists against Houston Baptist during the Rice Invitational ranks as the most for a Big 12
player this season as Erin Mcnorton (Kansas) and Hannah Allison (Texas) are the only other setters to register
60 or more assists in a match.
• Ruetter entered this week ranked 55th in the NCAA for assists per set as she has totaled a 10.66 average.
She also ranks fifth in the category among Big 12 setters as well.
STEPPING UP THE MIDDLE
Prior to this season, one of the main aspects Don Flora wanted to improve in the Texas Tech attack was the
play in the middle. The Red Raiders attacked primarily from the outside during his inaugural campaign on
the Tech bench but have looked more to the middle this season with returning junior Aubree Piper and
emerging freshman Lydia McKay. The two middles enter this week ranked among the top 10 in the Big 12
for hitting percentage with Piper recording a .309 average and McKay trailing slightly with a .295 percentage. The two, along with fellow middle blocker Mikia Mills, have combined for 351 kills so far this season, 33
percent of Tech’s team total which is vast improvement from a year ago where Tech received only 20 percent
of its kills from the middle. Tech has not had two or more middle blockers post 100 or more kills in a season
since Piper and Barbara Conceicao combined for 255 in 2010.
DAVID SEES FIRST FULL ACTION BACK AGAINST KANSAS
Despite having played briefly in two matches since returning from injury, Breeann David made her full return to the court against Texas as the sophomore connected on 10 kills over three sets. David was Texas
Tech’s leader in kills prior to suffering an ankle injury early in the first set against Towson on Sept. 7. Since
then, she has played just a few points in Tech’s first two Big 12 matches against Kansas and TCU. The Denver
City, Texas native has primarily played three rotations since returning from injury.
RED RAIDERS RECEIVING MORE ATTENTION UNDER FLORA
Don Flora’s hiring at Texas Tech has not only resulted in more wins for the Red Raiders but it has also brought
more recognition to the program as well. In the 15 seasons prior to his arrival, Texas Tech had only been
@TECHATHLETICS

TEXAS TECH VOLLEYBALL
honored with a Big 12 weekly recipient 12 times with the most recent being Amanda Dowdy in 2008. That all
changed in 2011, though, as the Red Raiders picked up three conference weekly awards en route to a 15-17
season that marked the most wins since 2001. Tech has picked up right where last season left off as well as
the Red Raiders are 11-3 and have already received four weekly accolades from the league, giving Flora seven
in a little over a season.
EHRLE BECOMES LATEST RED RAIDER TO EARN A BIG 12 WEEKLY AWARD
Emily Ehrle joined Rachel Brummitt and Emily Ruetter as Big 12 weekly award recipients on Sept. 10 as she
was named the conference Rookie of the Week for her play at the Montana Tournament. The freshman totaled 46 kills over four matches, including double digit totals over the final two contests against Furman and
Montana. She hit .293 over 14 sets, including a .432 mark against Furman where she connected on a careerhigh 23 kills. The performance marked the first time a Tech player had reached the 20-kill mark this season
and was also the most kills since Amanda Dowdy recorded 26 on Sept. 26 last year at New Mexico. The selection marked the third-straight week a Red Raider had earned a conference award, a first in school history.
TOWSON SNAPS TEXAS TECH’S SEASON-OPENING WINNING STREAK
Texas Tech’s loss to Towson to start the Montana tournament snapped an eight-match winning streak to
start the season for the Red Raiders, who were off to their best start since 2003. The Red Raiders had started a
season with eight-straight victories only seven times previously in school history. Tech also opened the 2011
season with a solid start as the Red Raiders were 13-1 with the only loss coming in the season opener at TCU.
BRUMMITT REPEATS AT BIG 12 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rachel Brummitt became the first Tech player to earn a Big 12 weekly in consecutive weeks on Sept. 4 when
the sophomore was named the conference Defensive Player of the Week. Brummitt, who took the award
after the opening weekend of the season as well, snapped the Tech school record for most digs in a three-set
match against San Jose State as she finished with 27, topping the previous record of 24 that was set by Sheila
Solomon on Nov. 16, 1990, against Houston. The Plano, Texas native was named to last weekend’s Lonestar
Showdown all-tournament team as she finished with a team-high 60 digs to go along with four aces.
RUETTER ALSO HONORED AS CONFERENCE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Just like Rachel Brummitt, freshman Emily Ruetter was also honored by the Big 12 on Sept. 4 as she was
named the conference Rookie of the Week. Since taking over the setter role at the beginning of the season,
Ruetter has led a balanced Tech attack as she is sixth in the Big 12 with a 9.60 assists per set average that also
ranks second in the league among freshman setters. She finished with 111 assists to go along with 21 digs
and seven blocks during the Lonestar Showdown en route to becoming the first Tech setter to earn a conference weekly award since Lisa Hilgers on Nov. 16, 1998.
RED RAIDERS WIN LONESTAR SHOWDOWN CROWN
Texas Tech’s success in tournament formats continued this past weekend as the Red Raiders defended their
home floor to win the Lonestar Showdown title after sweeping both Texas-Pan American and San Jose State
before holding off Northwestern State with a 3-1 victory in the finale. The Red Raiders are 38-9 during the Big
12 in home tournaments and 6-0 under head coach Don Flora, who has led Tech to its five tournament titles
already in his two-year tenure. Tech is 21-4 when playing in a tournament setting under Flora.
DAVID SHINES IN FRONT OF HOME CROWD
Breeann David led the Red Raiders with 31 kills and 18 blocks en route to earning MVP honors of the Lonestar Showdown. The sophomore also totaled a pair of aces and 29 digs as she posted her first doubledouble of the season and second of her career with 14 kills and 12 digs in the finale against Northwestern
State. David also recorded a career-high seven blocks against the Lady Demons and hit a season-high .375
as well. She followed up the performance with another double-double Monday against North Texas where
the Denver City native recorded 16 kills and 16 digs to help the Red Raiders overcome an early deficit and
take a 3-1 victory.
BRUMMITT EARNS BIG 12 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AFTER IMPRESSIVE DEBUT
Rachel Brummitt was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 27 after earning MVP honors
at the Boston College Invitational. The sophomore totaled 68 digs and eight aces from the libero position,
which was the most among Big 12 players that weekend in both categories. The Plano, Texas native was the
first Tech player to receive a conference weekly award since Tory Vaughan was also honored as the defensive
player of the week on Oct. 31 last year.
PIPER, RUETTER NAMED TO BOSTON COLLEGE INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Aubree Piper and Emily Ruetter were both named to the Boston College Invitational all-tournament team
after helping lead the Red Raiders to their first 4-0 start to a season since 2003. Piper was a dominating presence for the Red Raiders in the middle, finishing with 30 kills along with a team-high .397 hitting percentage
to go along with 18 blocks. Ruetter, meanwhile, was Tech’s primary setter throughout the weekend, totaling
141 assists (8.81 per set) and two double-doubles after recording 32 digs.
FLORA GOES WITH YOUNG LINEUP IN BOSTON
Don Flora certainly was not kidding when he said prior to the season that the Red Raiders would likely use a
rotation composed primarily of freshmen and sophomores. The second-year head coach proved his point at
the Boston College Invitational as the Red Raiders started at least four newcomers in every match, with the
Binghamton and Boston College lineups including four freshmen and a pair of sophomores.

#WRECKEMTECH

TEXAS TECH RECORD WHEN...
At the United Spirit Arena
On the road
Neutral sites
Big 12 Play
Non-Conference
At a tournament
On Television

TEXAS TECH VOLLEYBALL
CAVE NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 TEAM
Miara Cave was Texas Tech’s only honoree on the Big 12 Preseason Team that
was announced prior to the season. The senior was one of 15 conference players
honored in a vote by the league coaches after totaling 298 kills a year ago to
go along with a .231 hitting percentage. The selection marked the third-straight
season a Red Raider has been represented on the preseason team after Amanda
Dowdy garnered the accolade the past two years.
NEW FACES HIGHLIGHT 2012 ROSTER
Possibly the most noticeable feature of the 2012 version of the Red Raiders will
be the amount of newcomers spread throughout the roster. Don Flora and his
staff added nine freshmen to the roster in the offseason to go along with transfers Rachel Brummitt and Ciara Gibson. Brummitt transferred from Radford
University while Gibson redshirted the 2011 season after playing her first two
seasons at Kentucky State. This marks the second-straight season Flora has used
a large recruiting class after having 12 newcomers a year ago.
CAVE, VAUGHAN RETURN FOR SENIOR SEASON
Texas Tech seniors Miara Cave and Tory Vaughan will look to wrap their respective careers on a winning note in 2012. The two San Antonio natives have both
been regulars in the Tech rotation since stepping foot on campus as freshmen
in 2009. Since then, Cave has turned into one of the top right-sides in the Big 12
while Vaughan has played an important role as Tech’s libero over two seasons.
Out of Tech’s 21-player roster, only Cave and Vaughan, along with junior Aubree
Piper, have lettered more than one season.

RED RAIDERS PICKED EIGHTH IN BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL
In order to advance to the postseason for the first time since 2001, Texas Tech
will have to do better than its preseason poll prediction as the Red Raiders were
picked to finish eighth in the nine-team Big 12 Conference in a vote by the
league coaches. Texas, which has won the conference title in four of the past five
seasons, was a unanimous selection to defend its Big 12 crown from a year ago
with Iowa State and Kansas State being picked second and third, respectively.
Oklahoma, Baylor, Kansas, and TCU rounded out the picks in front of Tech, while
new league member West Virginia was the only school picked behind the Red
Raiders.
Big 12 Conference Preseason Poll
Rank Team (First-place votes)
Points
1.
Texas (8)
64
2.
Iowa State (1)
54
3.
Kansas State
53
4. Oklahoma
40
5. Baylor
36
6. Kansas
30
7. TCU
22
8.
TEXAS TECH
17
9.
West Virginia
8

O’CANADA
For the first time since 2007, Texas Tech will boast a player from north of the border in freshman setter Emily Ruetter. One of the top setters throughout Canada
the past four years, Ruetter arrives at Tech after lettering at Nelson High School
all four seasons while also playing for Defensa Volleyball Club, one of the top
club programs in the country. The Burlington, Ontario native was a member of
the 17-under Canada Selects team that won the 2011 national title before playing up on the 18-under division at the Ontario Provincials (equivalent to a state
championship) where she was named the tournament MVP. Ruetter, who is expected to compete for Tech’s starting setter job, is the first Canadian-born player
for Tech since current director of operations Amy Gandy .
TEXAS TECH SPORTS NEW LOOK IN 2012
For the first time in recent memory, Texas Tech will sport a new look in 2012 as
the Red Raiders will switch to long-sleeve uniforms. The Red Raiders will continue to have three color options in black, red, and white with all three made by
Texas Tech’s official uniform provider, Under Armour. One other change to the
uniform is across the front where the usual Double T logo has been replaced by
the spelling of “Texas Tech.”
FLORA HAS RED RAIDERS MOVING UP AFTER ONLY ONE YEAR
Don Flora’s presence on the South Plains was quickly noticed a year ago when
he led the Red Raiders, who were 4-25 overall in 2010, to a 15-17 record that
marked the program’s most victories since 2001. Not a bad start for the first-year
head coach. Tech’s 11-match win differential between the two seasons ranked
third overall in the nation last year, falling only behind Samford (+15) and Tennessee-Martin (+13). Prior to his arrival, the Red Raiders had combined to win
just 11 matches over the previous three seasons.
BIG 12 COMING OFF BANNER YEAR
The Big 12 Conference is coming off possibly its best season in league history
after sending seven teams to the postseason in 2011 and recording the nation’s
top RPI (ratings percentage index). The conference finished with five teams
ranked in the top 30 of the RPI, including two in the top three with Texas ranked
second and Iowa State a spot below. The league’s seven postseason selections
marked the Big 12’s most since 2005 and the second-most nationally.

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS
At the United Spirit Arena__________________8-11
On the road______________________________8-15
Neutral Site______________________________11-2
In a tournament setting____________________21-4
On television______________________________0-5
Against ranked opponents__________________0-7
Against top 5 teams________________________0-0
Against top 10 teams_______________________0-3
In three set matches______________________14-16
In four set matches_________________________8-8
In five set matches_________________________5-4
On Monday_______________________________3-0
On Tuesday_______________________________1-2
On Wednesday___________________________0-11
On Friday________________________________10-2
On Saturday____________________________12-13
#WRECKEMTECH

n only one season as the head volleyball coach at Texas Tech, Don Flora has already revitalized a
once storied program.

Flora was named the eighth volleyball coach in school history on Jan. 7, 2011, and immediately hit the
ground running, leading the Red Raiders to a 15-17 record, the program’s most victories since 2001. It also
marked the third-largest win differential in the country (+11) from the 2010 to 2011 season after inheriting a
program that was just 4-25 the year before.
Not bad for a first-year head coach who inherited a program that had only won 11 matches over its previous
three seasons combined. Flora led the Red Raiders to that total in only his second month.
Flora is 296-86 in 12-plus total seasons as a collegiate head coach as he remains one of the winningest active
coaches with 10 years of experience at any level of NCAA play.
In his 12 seasons as a head coach, Flora’s only other losing season came during his inaugural campaign at the
University of La Verne (Calif.) when the Leopards similarly finished just two matches below .500 with a 12-14
mark. Flora led La Verne to 20 or more wins in nine of his next 10 seasons.
The California native will look to do the same at Texas Tech as he enters the 2012 season, his second on the
South Plains, with a young roster composed of 10 newcomers coming mainly from his first true recruiting
class that spanned the Western Hemisphere as well as the state of Texas.
Flora and his staff traveled to Canada to sign setter Emily Ruetter and then reached the Midwest with the addition of Brianna Grant out of Illinois and Meghan Stacy from Missouri. He also stayed close to home with the
signing of Emily Ehrle from Crowley, Texas, who was the first of five other true freshmen to join the program.
Red Raider fans took notice in only his first year as Tech averaged more than 800 fans in 2011, around a 15
percent increase from the year before. Tech broke the 1,000 fan mark three times, including a season high
1,413 on Nov. 9 against No. 8 Texas that was the largest announced attendance since 1,468 fans saw the Red
Raiders face top-ranked Nebraska.
Flora came to Tech following a two-year stint as an assistant coach at New Mexico State where the Aggies,
consistently one of the top programs nationally, compiled a 38-22 record. Flora was responsible for recruiting
activities, practice instruction and game strategy and was involved in the daily development of the overall
program under head coach Mike Jordan.
La Verne posted at least 20 wins in nine-straight seasons beginning in 2000 as the Leopards claimed ninestraight Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) titles. During Flora’s tenure, the
Leopards were 140-10 in SCIAC matches, boasting an impressive .933 winning percentage helped in part by
five undefeated 14-0 campaigns in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, and 2008.
As the success kept building early in Flora’s tenure, so did the achievements at the national level. In only
Flora’s fourth season, the Leopards wrapped a near-perfect 27-1 season with the 2001 NCAA Division III
National Title, the second in school history.
The title run earned Flora the Division III National Coach of the Year honor by both the American Volleyball
Coaches Association (AVCA) and Volleyball Magazine. He was also named the AVCA West Region Coach of
the Year, an award he was presented three more times following the 2003, 2005, and 2008 seasons.
With a national title under his belt, Flora’s success kept rolling as the Leopards eventually posted their first
30-win season in 2003, which began a streak of three-straight seasons where La Verne advanced to the NCAA
Final Four. The Leopards posted a school-record 33 wins a season later.
The Leopards posted 27 wins in each of Flora’s final three seasons at the school, which culminated in another
national title match appearance in 2008. Unlike 2001, however, La Verne was topped in the championship,
falling to Emory in four sets.
Flora graduated with a degree in social sciences from La Verne in 1990 before later returning to the classroom
to earn his masters in the Leadership and Management curriculum in 2000. Flora, a native of Covina, Calif.,
and his wife, Jeanne, currently reside in Lubbock with their two daughters, Annika and Alexis.

THE LAST TIME TEXAS TECH ...
Defeated an opponent in three sets............................................................................. vs. San Jose State (Aug. 31, 2012)
Defeated a non-conference opponent in three sets............................................... vs. San Jose State (Aug. 31, 2012)
Defeated a non-conference opponent in three sets at home............................. vs. San Jose State (Aug. 31, 2012)
Defeated a non-conference opponent in three sets on the road...........................at UT Arlington (Sept. 17, 2011)
Defeated a non-conference opponent in three sets at neural site........................vs. Binghamton (Aug. 24, 2012)
Defeated a Big 12 opponent in three sets...........................................................................vs. Texas A&M (Nov. 18, 2006)
Defeated a Big 12 opponent in three sets at home.........................................................vs. Texas A&M (Nov. 18, 2006)
Defeated a Big 12 opponent in three sets on the road......................................................at Colorado (Nov. 20, 2002)
Defeated an opponent in four sets..................................................................................... at West Virginia (Oct. 13, 2012)
Defeated a non-conference opponent in four sets.............................................................. at Montana (Sept. 8, 2012)
Defeated a non-conference opponent in four sets at home.......................................vs. North Texas (Sept. 3, 2012)
Defeated a non-conference opponent in four sets on the road...................................... at Montana (Sept. 8, 2012)
Defeated a non-conference opponent in four sets at neural site.........................................vs. Siena (Aug. 25, 2012)
Defeated a Big 12 opponent in four sets........................................................................... at West Virginia (Oct. 13 2012)
Defeated a Big 12 opponent in four sets at home................................................................. vs. Kansas (Sept. 26, 2006)
Defeated a Big 12 opponent in four sets on the road.................................................. at West Virginia (Oct. 13, 2012)
Defeated an opponent in five sets.............................................................................vs. Houston Baptist (Sept. 14, 2012)
Defeated a non-conference opponent in five sets...............................................vs. Houston Baptist (Sept. 14, 2012)
Defeated a non-conference opponent in five sets at home...................................................vs. Lamar (Sept. 1, 2007)
Defeated a non-conference opponent in five sets on the road..........................at Boston College (Aug. 25, 2012)
Defeated a non-conference opponent in five sets at neural site....................vs. Houston Baptist (Sept. 14, 2012)
Defeated a Big 12 opponent in five sets....................................................................................... vs. Baylor (Oct. 26, 2011)
Defeated a Big 12 opponent in five sets at home..................................................................... vs. Baylor (Oct. 26, 2011)
Defeated a Big 12 opponent in five sets on the road..........................................................at Colorado (Nov. 20, 2011)
Lost to an opponent in three sets........................................................................................... vs. Oklahoma (Oct. 17, 2012)
Lost to a non-conference opponent in three sets.........................................................................at Rice (Sept. 15, 2012)
Lost to a non-conference opponent in three sets at home.......................................................vs. Utah (Sept. 4, 1999)
Lost to a non-conference opponent in three sets on the road.................................................at Rice (Sept. 15, 2012)
Lost to a non-conference opponent in three sets at neural site............vs. Cal State Northridge (Sept. 15, 2012)
Lost to a Big 12 opponent in three sets................................................................................ vs. Oklahoma (Oct. 17, 2012)
Lost to a Big 12 opponent in three sets at home............................................................... vs. Oklahoma (Oct. 17, 2012)
Lost to a Big 12 opponent in three sets on the road.................................................................... at TCU (Sept. 26, 2012)
Lost to an opponent in four sets........................................................................................................at Baylor (Oct. 10, 2012)
Lost to a non-conference opponent in four sets...................................................... at Central Arkansas (Oct. 2, 2012)
Lost to a non-conference opponent in four sets at home....................................... vs. New Orleans (Sept. 13, 2008)
Lost to a non-conference opponent in four sets on the road.............................. at Central Arkansas (Oct. 2, 2012)
Lost to a non-conference opponent in four sets at neural site............................. vs. Northeastern (Sept. 11, 2010)
Lost to a Big 12 opponent in four sets.............................................................................................at Baylor (Oct. 10, 2012)
Lost to a Big 12 opponent in four sets at home..............................................................vs. 22 Iowa State (Oct. 6, 2012)
Lost to a Big 12 opponent in four sets on the road.....................................................................at Baylor (Oct. 10, 2011)
Lost to an opponent in five sets....................................................................................................at Nevada (Sept. 19, 2012)
Lost to a non-conference opponent in five sets.....................................................................at Nevada (Sept. 19, 2012)
Lost to a non-conference opponent in five sets at home..........................................................vs. TCU (Sept. 12, 2008)
Lost to a non-conference opponent in five sets on the road.............................................at Nevada (Sept. 19, 2012)
Lost to a non-conference opponent in five sets at neural site......................vs. New Mexico State (Aug. 26, 2006)
Lost to a Big 12 opponent in five sets................................................................................... vs. Texas A&M (Oct. 19, 2011)
Lost to a Big 12 opponent in five sets at home................................................................. vs. Texas A&M (Oct. 19, 2011)
Lost to a Big 12 opponent in five sets on the road........................................................... at Oklahoma (Sept. 27, 2008)
Defeated a ranked opponent............................................................................... at #24 Kansas State, 3-2 (Nov. 20, 2004)
Defeated a ranked opponent at home........................................................................vs. #21 Missouri, 3-1 (Oct. 5, 2002)
Defeated a ranked opponent on the road...................................................... at #24 Kansas State, 3-2 (Nov. 20, 2004)
Defeated a ranked opponent at a neutral site....................................................................................... Never in Big 12 era
Lost to a ranked opponent.....................................................................................................vs. 22 Iowa State (Oct. 6, 2012)
Lost to a ranked opponent at home....................................................................................vs. 22 Iowa State (Oct. 6, 2012)
Lost to a ranked opponent on the road...........................................................................at #13 Iowa State (Nov. 5, 2011)
Lost to a ranked opponent at a neutral site........................................................................vs. #10 Illinois (Aug. 29, 2009)